Tam's diary

Stefan and I met with Phil Raines and Scott Wood to discuss matters and seek clarity on some aspects of the thinking on the Bill of Rights for Children and Young People.

Renfrewshire visit. I first addressed a group of 100 pupils at St Mirren stadium. This was the launch of an annual consultation and engagement event to inform the development of children’s services in Renfrewshire.

I then went on to meet with senior managers, including Robert Naylor (Director, Education and Leisure Services), Susan Bell (Education, GIRFEC implementation), Shona Glasgow (Integrated Child Services Officer), Michelle McCargill (SW Senior Manager). The discussion around the legislative proposals was informative, particularly in terms of funding barriers, as was the opportunity to give details of the work areas from the blether.

Stefan and I visited Bathgate Academy and addressed a group of 100 senior pupils at assembly, thanking them for their involvement in a RIGHT blether and informing them of the work as a result. We spoke to a smaller group of six pupils from feeder primaries who had also taken part in the vote, including Blackburn Primary who informed us that they had submitted 59 votes, making the total 74,059. We also met around 20 pupils of the School Council and took part in a class of 15 pupils discussing politics – a very full visit indeed.

I briefly called in on the launch of the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children.

South Ayrshire visit. I met with Senior Officers in South Ayrshire - Harry Garland (Executive Director, Children and Communities), Louise Long (Acting Head of Children and Family Services), Alison McLeod (Performance and Business Manager), Nicola Hunter (Inspection and Quality Assurance), Gary Balshaw (Press Officer), Kenny Leinster (Head of Community Care) and Fiona McClair (School Management). The meeting time was squeezed, as we needed to travel for a school visit. However, it provided a very useful opportunity to discuss the forthcoming legislation and to inform the members of the action from the RIGHT blether results, mainly focusing on the issue of domestic abuse.

I visited Colmonell Primary school. I spoke to a group of 30 children, including some from neighbouring schools. We were a wee bit late, although the pupils were patient. I gave general information about my role, followed by an interactive Q&A.

I met with Senior Managers from NHS Health Scotland – Laurence Gruer, Ann Kerr and Monica Merson. It was helpful to gain a better understanding of the work of NHS Scotland, and to identify areas of common interest. I expect to meet again to further develop links.

Cathy, Maire and I met with Robert Nicol and Kathy Cameron (both COSLA). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss engagement with COSLA and the opportunities to address the COSLA Leadership Group and Education Sub-Committee. It also provided an early opportunity to exchange notes on the recent legislative announcements and we agreed to follow up before the end of the first consultation period.

Stephen Grounds (Office Manager) and I met with Janice Crerar and Huw Williams (Scottish Parliament Corporate Body) to agree presentation of the financial information within the Strategic Plan.

I spoke at the parliamentary reception chaired by Alison McInnes, MSP and hosted by Families Outside to mark the upcoming UN Day of discussion on Children of Prisoners.  The event was attended by around 30 people.  Mary Fee, MSP informed of her intention to set up a Cross Party Group on the issue, on which she has since sent out notices.

Cathy Begley and I met with John Edwards, Director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools.  They have around 100 members ranging from fee paying schools to schools providing for special educational needs.  John agreed to play the same championing role for SCIS that we have identified for key staff in local authority areas and we look forward to further involvement of members of SCIS.

 I met with Bronwen Cohen (Children in Scotland) over lunch and we exchanged notes on recent developments.

My office has convened a Disability Working Group, and I chaired the first meeting.  The meeting prompted a very wide ranging discussion on current issues and there are more than sufficient of these to consider as we shape up the agenda in this area. 

I addressed the Church of Scotland conference in Larbet, Stirling – there were around 50 participants.  I spoke generally about the work of the office, touching on the issue of child trafficking as Maire McCormack and Stefan Stoyanov ran two workshops on this topic in the afternoon.

Cathy Begley and I attended the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) conference in Warsaw.  

Our Polish hosts were very welcoming arranging evening visits on two nights – both were plays enacted by children and were about rights.  The first of these celebrated the life of Janusz Korczak and the second the work of Irena Sendlerowa.

 ENOC now has a large membership of around 40 members, most of whom were in attendance. 

 The European Network of Young Advisors (ENYA) project formed part of the discussion and formal report back.  There is no agreement on the involvement of ENYA and we will maintain our current position of not sending young people representatives to the current format.  

 There are a number of like minded Ombudsperson offices that we may consider developing working relationship outside of the main ENOC.

The meeting next year will be held in Cyprus sometime in November.

I attended the launch of a RIGHT wee blether at Paisley Pre-5 Centre – along with Sarah-Louise Davies and Emma Laverie.  The Head of Education, Robert Naylor was also present and participated in the interaction with the children – the pictures from this event are excellent.  We were very warmly welcomed by the staff at the centre and we also met with three parents which was a really enjoyable and informative session over a wee cup of tea.

I addressed the Early Years Conference in Kintore, Aberdeenshire.  The audience was 200 staff from the early years workforce.  Also in attendance at the conference were senior education staff and the early years co-ordinator.  Many of the audience were already familiar with a RIGHT wee blether and I used the opportunity to promote it again. 

I visited East Dunbartonshire to meet with Gordon Currie (Director of Education) and his senior staff.  I fed back the results of a RIGHT blether and Gordon was most complimentary about the importance of developing contacts as an ongoing aspect of the work.  They were already aware of the RIGHT wee blether and open to further engagement through the promotion of UNCRC.

 I visited Killermont Primary School and addressed the whole school on a RIGHT blether and the results – around 300 pupils.  I had a very lively Q&A which could have lasted longer and indeed the photo call went into lunchtime.

My office has convened an Advisory Group on Incorporation of the UNCRC.  This was a most timely meeting as the Cabinet Secretary had announced the day before the intention of the government to introduce a Bill on the Rights of Children and Young People.  Scott Wood (Scottish Government) briefed the group on the Bill, the intentions behind it and engaged in an open discussion regarding opportunities to influence its passage.

 I spoke to the Community Care Providers Scotland Sub-Committee on Care and Support for Children and Young People.  It has members from all of the major organisations in terms of voluntary sector children and young people.  The discussion was originally for a RIGHT blether feedback, although inevitably focussed on the government legislative announcement and the plight of the organisations in the face of budget constraints.

I met with a group of six young women supported by Women into Public Life in Rothesay.  They were all young mums and showed great resilience in their living arrangements and determination to make positive lives for themselves and their children.  They took away ‘RIGHT wee blether’ packs and we look forward to seeing the results of their wee blethers.

I delivered the Annual Apex Lecture in the Signet Library to an audience of around 170 people, mainly from the field of criminal justice. I spoke about the youth justice system, in particular, concerns and potential remedies on the issue of dealing with those aged 16 and over.

I attended the annual conference of British and Irish Network of Ombudspeople and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC) in Belfast.

 On the evening of 4th September, the Commissioners met with the lead officers from each of the four nations responsible for Children in Need.  This was a really useful opportunity to exchange thoughts on priority issues for children and young people and to discuss how we might work more closely in future.  In Scotland we already have useful contact and I expect this to be maintained.

 The BINOCC conference was useful in providing information on the potential use of international treaties and reporting mechanisms which have relevance for children and young people.  It also provides a useful setting for the sharing of information among staff.

I spoke at a conference in East Kilbride to an audience of 150 on the implementation of the Early Years Framework in South Lanarkshire.  I outlined my thoughts on progress so far and the need to provide more influential levers of change to bring about lasting transformation.  This was a great audience to promote a RIGHT wee blether and many of them had already heard or engaged with this.

My office has convened a Domestic Abuse Advisory Group, and I chaired its first meeting.  The agenda was wide ranging as we explored the areas of work which could form part of the work plan for the office and in particular, where the added value will be in this work.  This is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group and I look forward to developing our work in this area.

 I met with Phil Raines and Scott Wood (Scottish Government) to discuss the potential for joint work in the upcoming government legislative programme.